[edit] Overview
Plastics can be classified by chemical structure, namely the molecular units that make up the
polymer's backbone and side chains. Some important groups in these classifications are the
acrylics, polyesters, silicones, polyurethanes, and halogenated plastics. Plastics can also be
classified by the chemical process used in their synthesis, such as condensation, polyaddition,
and cross-linking.[5]
Also, most plastics can be bent, by vacuum moulding. This process can shape plastics around
moulds, i.e. model cars, for instance.
Other classifications are based on qualities that are relevant for manufacturing or product design.
Examples of such classes are the thermoplastic and thermoset, elastomer, structural,
biodegradable, and electrically conductive. Plastics can also be classified by various physical
properties, such as density, tensile strength, glass transition temperature, and resistance to
various chemical products.
Due to their relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and imperviousness to water,
plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products, from paper clips to
spaceships. They have already displaced many traditional materials, such as wood; stone; horn
and bone; leather; paper; metal; glass; and ceramic, in most of their former uses.
The use of plastics is constrained chiefly by their organic chemistry, which seriously limits their
hardness, density, and their ability to resist heat, organic solvents, oxidation, and ionizing
radiation. In particular, most plastics will melt or decompose when heated to a few hundred
degrees celsius.[6] While plastics can be made electrically conductive, with the conductivity of up
to 80 kS/cm in stretch-oriented polyacetylene,[7][8][9][10] they are still no match for most metals like
copper which have conductivities of several hundreds kS/cm. Plastics are still too expensive to
replace wood, concrete and ceramic in bulky items like ordinary buildings, bridges, dams,
pavement, and railroad ties.[citation needed]
[edit] Chemical structure
Common thermoplastics range from 20,000 to 500,000 amu, while thermosets are assumed to
have infinite molecular weight. These chains are made up of many repeating molecular units,
known as repeat units, derived from monomers; each polymer chain will have several thousand
repeating units. The vast majority of plastics are composed of polymers of carbon and hydrogen
alone or with oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine or sulfur in the backbone. (Some of commercial
interests are silicon based.) The backbone is that part of the chain on the main "path" linking a
large number of repeat units together. To customize the properties of a plastic, different
molecular groups "hang" from the backbone (usually they are "hung" as part of the monomers
before linking monomers together to form the polymer chain). This fine tuning of the properties
of the polymer by repeating unit's molecular structure has allowed plastics to become such an
indispensable part of twenty first-century world.
Some plastics are partially crystalline and partially amorphous in molecular structure, giving
them both a melting point (the temperature at which the attractive intermolecular forces are
overcome) and one or more glass transitions (temperatures above which the extent of localized
molecular flexibility is substantially increased). The so-called semi-crystalline plastics include
polyethylene, polypropylene, poly (vinyl chloride), polyamides (nylons), polyesters and some
polyurethanes. Many plastics are completely amorphous, such as polystyrene and its copolymers,
poly (methyl methacrylate), and all thermosets.
Molded plastic food replicas on display outside a restaurant in Japan
[edit] Families
Plastics families
Amorphous Semi-crystalline
Ultra polymers PI, SRP, TPI, PAI, HTS PFSA, PEEK
Fluoropolymers: LCP, PARA, HPN,
High performance PPS, PPA
PPSU, PEI, PESU, PSU
polymers
Other polyamides
PC, PPC, COC, PMMA, ABS, PEX, PVDC, PBT, PET, POM, PA 6,6,
Mid range polymers
PVC Alloys UHMWPE
Commodity polymers PS, PVC PP, HDPE, LDPE
[edit] History
This section requires expansion.
The first human-made plastic was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1855;[11] he called this plastic
Parkesine (later called celluloid). It was unveiled at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in
London.[12] The development of plastics has come from the use of natural plastic materials (e.g.,
chewing gum, shellac) to the use of chemically modified natural materials (e.g., rubber,
nitrocellulose, collagen, galalite) and finally to completely synthetic molecules (e.g., bakelite,
epoxy, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene). In 1866, Parkes formed the Parkesine Company to
mass produce the material. The company, however, failed due to poor product quality as Parkes
tried to reduce costs. Parkesine's successors were Xylonite, produced by Daniel Spill (an
associate of Parkes), and Celluloid from John Wesley Hyatt. Parkesine was made from cellulose
treated with nitric acid and a solvent. The generic name of Parkesine is pyroxylin, or Celluloid.
Parkesine is often synthetic ivory. The Parkesine company ceased trading in 1868. Pictures of
Parkesine are held by the Plastics Historical Society of London. There is a plaque on the wall of
the site of the Parkesine Works.[13]
[edit] Types
This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please
improve this section if you can. The talk page may contain suggestions. (June 2009)
Plastic piping and firestops being installed in Ontario. Certain plastic pipes can be used in some
non-combustible buildings, provided they are firestopped properly and that the flame spread
ratings comply with the local building code.
After the First World War, improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion in new
forms of plastics. Among the earliest examples in the wave of new plastics were polystyrene
(PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Polystyrene is a rigid, brittle, inexpensive plastic that has been used to make plastic model kits
and similar knick-knacks. It would also be the basis for one of the most popular "foamed"
plastics, under the name styrene foam or Styrofoam. Foam plastics can be synthesized in an
"open cell" form, in which the foam bubbles are interconnected, as in an absorbent sponge, and
"closed cell", in which all the bubbles are distinct, like tiny balloons, as in gas-filled foam
insulation and flotation devices. In the late 1950s, high impact styrene was introduced, which
was not brittle. It finds much current use as the substance of toy figurines and novelties.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, commonly called "vinyl")[15] has side chains incorporating chlorine
atoms, which form strong bonds. PVC in its normal form is stiff, strong, heat and weather
resistant, and is now used for making plumbing, gutters, house siding, enclosures for computers
and other electronics gear. PVC can also be softened with chemical processing, and in this form
it is now used for shrink-wrap, food packaging, and rain gear.
All PVC polymers are degraded by heat and light. When this happens, hydrogen chloride is
released into the atmosphere and oxidation of the compound occurs.[16] Because hydrogen
chloride readily combines with water vapor in the air to form hydrochloric acid,[17] polyvinyl
chloride is not recommended for long-term archival storage of silver, photographic film or paper
(mylar is preferable).[18]
[edit] Nylon
Main article: Nylon
The real star of the plastics industry in the 1930s was polyamide (PA), far better known by its
trade name nylon. Nylon was the first purely synthetic fiber, introduced by DuPont Corporation
at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City.
In 1927, DuPont had begun a secret development project designated Fiber66, under the direction
of Harvard chemist Wallace Carothers and chemistry department director Elmer Keiser Bolton.
Carothers had been hired to perform pure research, and he worked to understand the new
materials' molecular structure and physical properties. He took some of the first steps in the
molecular design of the materials.
His work led to the discovery of synthetic nylon fiber, which was very strong but also very
flexible. The first application was for bristles for toothbrushes. However, Du Pont's real target
was silk, particularly silk stockings. Carothers and his team synthesized a number of different
polyamides including polyamide 6.6 and 4.6, as well as polyesters.[19]
There exist about 50 different types of plastics. Broadly plastics can be classified into two types namely
Thermosetting and Thermoplastic. The Thermosetting Plastics are those that cannot be soften again, after being
exposed to heat and pressure. On the action of heat and pressure, the molecular chain of thermosetting plastics
become cross-linked, due to what it forbids the slippage when pressure& heat are reapplied.
The thermoplastic are those that can be soften again and again & remade by the action of heat and pressure. On the
action of heat and pressure, the molecular chain of thermoplastics undergoes change and the polymers slide past
each other, that results in the property of plasticity. Some of the different thermoplastic and thermosetting plastics are
mentioned below.
• Vinyl Plastics :- Vinyl plastics belong to the thermoplastic group. Vinyl plastics are the sub-polymers of vinyl
derivatives. These are used in laminated safety glasses, flexible tubing, molded products etc.
• Polyurethane Plastics :- Polyurethane plastics belong to the group that can be thermosetting or thermoplastic.
Polyurethane is the only plastic which can be made in both rigid and flexible foams. The flexible polyurethane
foam is used in mattresses, carpets, furniture etc. The rigid polyurethane foam is used in chair shells, mirror
frames and many more. Due to the property of high elasticity, some polyurethane plastics are used in
decorative and protective coatings. The high elasticity makes these polyurethane plastics resistant to a
chemical attack.
• Polyacrylics Plastics :- Polyacrylics belong to the group of thermoplastics. Polyacrylics are transparent and
decorative. Polyacrylics plastics can be shaped in any form like the windshields for airplane.
Apart from these, plastics have been also divided into seven different types by the plastic industry. These seven
1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) :- PETE is one the most recycled plastic. It finds usage in various bottles
like that of soda and cooking oil, etc.
2. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) :- HDPE is generally used in detergent bottles and in milk jugs.
3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) :- PVC is commonly used in plastic pipes, furniture, water bottles, liquid detergent
jars etc.
4. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) :- LDPE finds its usage in dry cleaning bags, food storage containers etc.
5. Polypropylene (PP) :- PP is commonly used in bottle caps and drinking straws.
7. Other :- This category of plastics include those plastics which are different from the six aforesaid types
of plastic. These plastics are usually used in food containers and in Tupperware.
Plastics are natural/synthetic materials. They are produced by chemically modifying natural
substances or are synthesized from inorganic and organic raw materials. On the basis of their
physical characteristics, plastics are usually divided into thermosets, elastomers and
thermoplastics. These groups differ primarily with regard to molecular structure, which is what
determines their differing thermal behavior. The following Table lists the characteristics of the
various types of plastics.
Top of Form
partner-pub-3754 FORID:10 ISO-8859-1
Search
ezinearticles.com
Bottom of Form
Ads By Google Plastics Cutters for Plastics Printing on Plastics
Plastics Part Design
Bottom of Form
HOME » Business » Industrial Mechanical
Submit Articles
Members Login
Top of Form The Different Types of Plastics
Email Address:
and Their Uses
By Johnny Routledge
Plastic Extrusion
We produce POP components, Frames, Data strips,
Terms of Service Hangers, all Colors.
Ezines / Email Alerts www.tangiblesltd.com
Manage Subscriptions Plastic mould
EzineArticles RSS Specialized in Plastic mould high quality and
competitive price
www.Win-Industry.com
Ads by Google
Polymer Research
Centre 13 3 1
Norner provides Rate This Article:
Polymer Research,
Material testing,
Analysis, R&D
www.norner.no Close
Suggest a topic or article headline
Biodegradation you would like this author to write about.
of Plastic
ASTM / ISO Bench
scale testing
Challenge
Soil/Compost
Respirometer
www.challenge-sys.com
Submit
Chemical
Close
producer info
Directory World
MLA Style Citation:
Chemical Producers Routledge, Johnny "The Different Types of
Worldwide Plastics and Their Uses." The Different Types
producers - 101 of Plastics and Their Uses. 10 Oct. 2008
countries EzineArticles.com. 7 Mar. 2011
www.chemicalinfo.com
<http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Different-
Plasma and Types-of-Plastics-and-Their-
Corona Uses&id=1572569>.
Surface Treatment APA Style Citation:
Technology to
Improve Adhesion Routledge, J. (2008, October 10). The
and Wettability Different Types of Plastics and Their Uses.
www.tantec.com Retrieved March 7, 2011, from
Polyfunctional http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Different-Types-
PCL or PEG of-Plastics-and-Their-Uses&id=1572569
Highly Functional Chicago Style Citation:
PCL and PEG Routledge, Johnny "The Different Types of
Nontoxic Plastics and Their Uses." The Different Types
Dendritic-Linear of Plastics and Their Uses EzineArticles.com.
Polymers
www.polymerfactory.com http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Different-Types-
of-Plastics-and-Their-Uses&id=1572569
Top of Form
CloseRecommend This Article
From Y our name Your email
:
Friend's name Friend's email
To:
Message:
Send
Bottom of Form
1. Home
3. Environmental Issues
Environmental Issues
Top of Form
types of plasti environment
Search
Bottom of Form
• Environmental Issues
• What's at Risk?
• What To Do
• Global Warming
• Share
• Print
Top of Form
18/1a9 http://environmen http://environmen +:gs::environmen
Sign Up
Bottom of Form
Discuss in my forum
Plastic Recycling MachineFind Plastic Recycling Machine? Top Quality,Low Price,Order Now!
www.giant-extruder.com
• Plastic Recycling
• Plastic Bags
• Scrap Plastic
• Pet Recycle
• Recycle Plastic
Sponsored Links
Plastic RecyclingBuy and sell all types Toll grinding availablewww.royalplastics.net
Download Google ChromeSearching is fast and easy with Google's web
browser.www.Google.com/Chrome
Dear EarthTalk: What is the deal with plastics recycling these days? Can you explain what
the different numbers molded onto the bottom of plastic containers stand for? – Tom
Croarkin, Fairfield, CT
The confusion over what we can and cannot recycle continues to confound consumers. Plastics are
especially troublesome, as different types of plastic require different processing to be reformulated
and re-used as raw material. Some municipalities accept all types of plastic for recycling, while others
only accept jugs, containers and bottles with certain numbers stamped on their bottoms.
The numbers, which 39 U.S. states now require to be molded or imprinted on all eight-ounce to five-
gallon containers that can accept the half-inch minimum-size symbol, identify the type of plastic.
According to the American Plastics Council, an industry trade group, the symbols also help recyclers
do their jobs more effectively.
Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics. These include heavier containers that
hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and motor oil. Plastic labeled with the
number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Like plastic designated number
1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers.
EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are
reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E.
Suggested Reading
• How to Stop Receiving Junk Mail
• Can You Recycle Your Toothbrush?
• What Does "Biodegradable" Claim Guarantee?
Elsewhere on the Web
• How and Where to Recycle Almost Anything
• Recycling Online Directory
• Municipal Solid Waste Recycling
Related Articles
• What to Recycle in Montreal - List of Recyclable Plastic Items Accepted by ...
• Plastics Recycling - Can You Recycle Plastic Lids and Bottle Caps?
• Plastics Recycling - Benefits of Plastics Recycling - Why Recycle Plastics?
• Recycling Curbside in Reno and Washoe County, Nevada - Information About Cu...
• Recycle - Green Baby
Larry West
Environmental Issues Guide
Sponsored Links
Waste Paper RecyclingBuy or Sell Waste Office Paper Waste Paper
Recycling/Recoverywww.recycle.net
Plastic Pulverizing EquipA complete line of grinding and material handling equipment.www.powder-
king.com
Recycling WorksPick Up, Process and Recycling Call Us Toll Free: 877-924-
4748WasteAwayGroup.com
Related Searches high density polyethylene plastics american plastics council high density
polyethylene society of the plastics industry medicine containers
By Category
• Global Warming
• Renewable Energy
• Green Living & Design
• Health & Environment
• Recycling
• Biodiversity / Conservation
• Pollution
• Alternative & Fossil Fuels
• Nuclear Energy & Waste
• Activism & Volunteering
• Environmental Law/Policy
• Environmental Events
Environmental Issues
1. Home
• Most Popular
• Latest Articles
• RSS
• Advertising Info
• Our Story
• News & Events
• Work at About
• SiteMap
• All Topics
• Reprints
• Help
• Write for About
• User Agreement
• Ethics Policy
• Patent Info.
• Privacy Policy
• Your Ad Choices
©2011 About.com. All rights reserved.
Sitemap | Home.
Plastic recycling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the
material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state.
For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles and then casting them as plastic
chairs and tables. Typically a plastic is not recycled into the same type of plastic, and products
made from recycled plastics are often not recyclable.[citation needed]
Contents
[hide]
• 1 Challenges
• 2 Processes
○ 2.1 Monomer recycling
○ 2.2 Thermal depolymerization
○ 2.3 Heat compression
○ 2.4 Other processes
• 3 Applications
○ 3.1 PET
○ 3.2 PVC
○ 3.3 HDPE
○ 3.4 Other plastics
• 4 Financial justification
• 5 Recycling rates
• 6 Consumer education
○ 6.1 United States
○ 6.2 United Kingdom
• 7 Plastic identification code
• 8 See also
• 9 References
• 10 External links
[edit] Challenges
When compared to other materials like glass and metal materials, plastic polymers require
greater processing to be recycled.[citation needed] Plastics have a low entropy of mixing, which is due
to the high molecular weight of their large polymer chains. A macromolecule interacts with its
environment along its entire length, so its enthalpy of mixing is large compared to that of an
organic molecule with a similar structure. Heating alone is not enough to dissolve such a large
molecule; because of this, plastics must often be of nearly identical composition in order to mix
efficiently.
When different types of plastics are melted together they tend to phase-separate, like oil and
water, and set in these layers. The phase boundaries cause structural weakness in the resulting
material, meaning that polymer blends are only useful in limited applications.
Another barrier to recycling is the widespread use of dyes, fillers, and other additives in plastics.
The polymer is generally too viscous to economically remove fillers, and would be damaged by
many of the processes that could cheaply remove the added dyes. Additives are less widely used
in beverage containers and plastic bags, allowing them to be recycled more frequently.
The use of biodegradable plastics is increasing. If some of these get mixed in the other plastics
for recycling, the reclaimed plastic is not recyclable because the variance in properties and melt
temperatures.[1]
[edit] Processes
Before recycling, plastics are sorted according to their resin identification code, a method of
categorization of polymer types, which was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in
1988. Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly referred to as PET, for instance, has a resin code of
1. They are also often separated by colour. The plastic recyclables are then shredded. These
shredded fragments then undergo processes to eliminate impurities like paper labels. This
material is melted and often extruded into the form of pellets which are then used to manufacture
other products.
[edit] Monomer recycling
Many recycling challenges can be resolved by using a more elaborate monomer recycling
process, in which a condensation polymer essentially undergoes the inverse of the
polymerization reaction used to manufacture it. This yields the same mix of chemicals that
formed the original polymer, which can be purified and used to synthesize new polymer chains
of the same type. Du Pont opened a pilot plant of this type in Cape Fear, North Carolina, USA, to
recycle PET by a process of methanolysis, but it closed the plant due to economic pressures.[2]
[edit] Thermal depolymerization
Main article: Depolymerization
Main article: Thermal depolymerization
Another process involves the conversion of assorted polymers into petroleum by a much less
precise thermal depolymerization process. Such a process would be able to accept almost any
polymer or mix of polymers, including thermoset materials such as vulcanized rubber tires and
the biopolymers in feathers and other agricultural waste. Like natural petroleum, the chemicals
produced can be made into fuels as well as polymers. A pilot plant of this type exists in
Carthage, Missouri, USA, using turkey waste as input material. Gasification is a similar process,
but is not technically recycling since polymers are not likely to become the result.
[edit] Heat compression
Yet another process that is gaining ground with startup companies (especially in Australia,
United States and Japan) is heat compression.[citation needed] The heat compression process takes all
unsorted, cleaned plastic in all forms, from soft plastic bags to hard industrial waste, and mixes
the load in tumblers (large rotating drums resembling giant clothes dryers). The most obvious
benefit to this method is the fact that all plastic is recyclable, not just matching forms. However,
criticism rises from the energy costs of rotating the drums, and heating the post-melt pipes.
[edit] Other processes
A process has also been developed in which many kinds of plastic can be used as a carbon source
in the recycling of scrap steel.[3]
[edit] Applications
[edit] PET
Main article: PET bottle recycling
Post-consumer polyethylenes are sorted into different color fractions, cleaned, and prepared for
processing[4]. This sorted post-consumer PET waste is crushed, chopped into flakes, pressed into
bales, and offered for sale[5].
One use for this recycled PET that has recently started to become popular is to create fabrics to
be used in the clothing industry[6]. The fabrics are created by spinning the PET flakes into thread
and yarn[5]. This is done just as easily as creating polyester from brand new PET[7]. The recycled
PET thread or yarn can be used either alone or together with other fibers to create a very wide
variety of fabrics. Traditionally these fabrics were used to create strong, durable, rough,
products, such as jackets, coat, shoes, bags, hats, and accessories. However, these fabrics are
usually too rough on the skin and could cause irritation. Therefore, they usually are not used on
any clothing that may irritate the skin, or where comfort is required[8]. But in today's new eco-
friendly world there has been more of a demand for “green” products. As a result, many clothing
companies have started looking for ways to take advantage of this new market and new
innovations in the use of recycled PET fabric are beginning to develop. These innovations
included different ways to process the fabric[5], to use the fabric, or blend the fabric with other
materials[9]. Some of the fabrics that are leading the industry in these innovations include
Billabong's Eco-Supreme Suede[9], Livity's Rip-Tide III[10], Wellman Inc's Eco-fi(formerly known
as EcoSpun)[4], and Reware's Rewoven[7]. Some additional companies that take pride in using
recycled PET in their products are Crazy Shirts[11] and Playback[6].
[edit] PVC
PVC- or Vinyl Recycling has historically been difficult to perfect on the industrial scale.[citation
needed]
But within the last decade several viable methods for recycling or upcycling PVC plastic
have been developed.[citation needed]
[edit] HDPE
The most-often recycled plastic[citation needed], HDPE or number 2, is downcycled into plastic
lumber, tables, roadside curbs, benches, truck cargo liners, trash receptacles, stationery (e.g.
rulers) and other durable plastic products and is usually in demand.
[edit] Other plastics
The white plastic foam peanuts used as packing material are often accepted by shipping stores
for reuse.[12]
Successful trials in Israel have shown that plastic films recovered from mixed municipal waste
streams can be recycled into useful household products such as buckets.[13]
Similarly, agricultural plastics such as mulch film, drip tape and silage bags are being diverted
from the waste stream and successfully recycled [14] into much larger products for industrial
applications such as plastic composite railroad ties.[15] Historically, these agricultural plastics
have primarily been either landfilled or burned on-site in the fields of individual farms.[16]
CNN reports that Dr. S. Madhu of the Kerala Highway Research Institute, India has formulated a
road surface that includes recycled plastic.[citation needed] Aggregate, bitumen (asphalt) with plastic
that has been shredded and melted at a temperature below 220 degrees C (428 °F) to avoid
pollution. This road surface is claimed to be very durable and monsoon rain resistant. The plastic
is sorted by hand, which is economical in India. The test road used 60 kg of plastic for an approx.
500m long, 8m wide, two-lane road.
[edit] Financial justification
In 2008, the price of PET dropped from $370/ton in the US to $20 in November.[17]. PET prices
had returned to their long term averages by May of 2009.[18]
[edit] Recycling rates
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed. (July 2009)
Plastic recycling rates lag far behind those of other items, such as newspaper (about 80%) and
corrugated fiberboard (about 70%).[19] All plastic bottles were recycled at a rate of 24% in 2005.
[20][clarification needed]
The quantity of post-consumer plastics recycled has increased every year since at least 1990. In
2006 the amount of plastic bottles recycled reached a record high of 2.2 trillion pounds. The
amount of PET bottles recycled in 2006 increased more than 102 million pounds compared to
2005. HDPE bottle recycling increased in 2005 to 928 million pounds.
[edit] Consumer education
[edit] United States
Low national plastic recycling rates have been due to the complexity of sorting and processing,
unfavorable economics, and consumer confusion about which plastics can actually be recycled.
[21]
Part of the confusion has been due to the recycling symbol that is usually on all plastic
items[citation needed]. This symbol is called a resin identification code. It is stamped or printed on the
bottom of containers and surrounded by a triangle of arrows. (See the table in Plastic.) The intent
of these arrows was to make it easier to identify plastics for recycling. The recycling symbol
doesn’t necessarily mean that the item will be accepted by residential recycling programs.[22]
[edit] United Kingdom
In the UK, the amount of post-consumer plastic being recycled is relatively low[23], due in part to
a lack of recycling facilities.
The Plastics 2020 Challenge was founded in 2009 by the plastics industry with the aim of
engaging the British public in a nationwide debate about the use, reuse and disposal of plastics,
hosts a series of online debates on its website framed around the waste hierarchy.
[edit] Plastic identification code
Main article: Resin identification code
Seven groups of plastic polymers,[24] each with specific properties, are used worldwide for
packaging applications (see table below). Each group of plastic polymer can be identified by its
Plastic Identification code (PIC) - usually a number or a letter abbreviation. For instance, Low-
Density Polyethylene can be identified by the number 4 and/or the letters "LDPE". The PIC
appears inside a three-chasing arrow recycling symbol. The symbol is used to indicate whether
the plastic can be recycled into new products.
The PIC was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. which provides a uniform
system for the identification of different polymer types and helps recycling companies to
separate different plastics for reprocessing. Manufacturers of plastic products are required to use
PIC labels in some countries/regions [25] and can voluntarily mark their products with the PIC
where there are no requirements. Consumers can identify the plastic types based on the codes
usually found at the base or at the side of the plastic products, including food/chemical
packaging and containers. The PIC is usually not present on packaging films, as it is not practical
to collect and recycle most of this type of waste.
Plastic
Type of plastic
Identification Properties Common Packaging Applications
polymer
Code
P
l
a
s
t
i
c
i
z
e
r
s
DIBP · DBP · BBP (BBzP) · DIHP · DEHP (DOP) · DIDP · DINP
:
P
h
t
h
a
l
a
t
e
s
p
l
a
s
t
i
c
i
z
e
r
s
M
o
n
o
Bisphenol A (BPA, in Polycarbonates) · Vinyl chloride (in PVC)
m
e
r
s
a
d
d
i
t
i
v
e
s
i
n
c
l
.
P
H
C
'
s
H
e
a
l
t
h
Teratogen · Carcinogen · Endocrine disruptor · Diabetes · Obesity
i
s
s
u
e
s
M
i
s
c
PVC · Plastic recycling · Plastic bottle · Vinyl chloride · Dioxins · Polystyrene ·
e
Styrofoam · PTFE (Teflon) · California Proposition 65 · List of environmental health
l
hazards · Persistent organic pollutant · European REACH regulation · Japan Toxic
l
Substances Law · Toxic Substances Control Act
a
n
e
a
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_recycling"
Categories: Plastic recycling
Hidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from
August 2010 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from
December 2010 | Articles with unsourced statements from August 2008 | Articles with unsourced
statements from August 2010 | Articles with unsourced statements from July 2008 | Articles
needing additional references from July 2009 | All articles needing additional references | All
pages needing cleanup | Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2009 | Articles with
unsourced statements from May 2009
Personal tools
• Log in / create account
Namespaces
• Article
• Discussion
Variants
Views
• Read
• Edit
• View history
Actions
Search
Top of Form
Special:Search
Search
Bottom of Form
Navigation
• Main page
• Contents
• Featured content
• Current events
• Random article
• Donate to Wikipedia
Interaction
• Help
• About Wikipedia
• Community portal
• Recent changes
• Contact Wikipedia
Toolbox
• What links here
• Related changes
• Upload file
• Special pages
• Permanent link
• Cite this page
Print/export
• Create a book
• Download as PDF
• Printable version
Languages
• العربية
• Deutsch
• िहनदी
• Magyar
• Português
• Svenska
• Türkçe
• This page was last modified on 23 February 2011 at 17:56.
• Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;
additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
organization.
• Contact us
• Privacy policy
• About Wikipedia
• Disclaimers
•
Plastic bottle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
A PET bottle
A plastic bottle is a bottle constructed of plastic, with a neck that is narrower than its body and
an opening at the top. The mouth of the bottle is normally sealed with a plastic bottle cap.[1]
Plastic bottles are typically used to store liquids such as water, soft drinks, motor oil, cooking oil,
medicine, shampoo, milk, and ink. The size ranges from very small sample bottles to large
carboys.
This article provides a description of common plastic container resin materials, their qualities,
usages, and limitations.
Contents
[hide]
• 1 History
• 2 Construction
• 3 Health and environmental issues
• 4 Labeling
• 5 See also
• 6 References
• 7 External links
[edit] History
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the first form of natural plastic during the Renaissance period.[2] The
plastic Da Vinci created was made from both animal and vegetable glues combined with organic
fibers.[2] When this combination dried Da Vinci was left with a product that would be described
today as a plastic-like substance.[2] In 1862, Alexander Parkes was responsible for introducing
the first manmade plastic at the Great International Exhibition in London.[2] This manmade
plastic was nicknamed Parkesine. Due to an extremely expensive production cost of raw
materials as well as the combustibility of the finished product, the product became obsolete.[2]
Plastic bottles were first used commercially in 1947,[3] but remained relatively expensive until the
early 1960s when high-density polyethylene was introduced.[4] They quickly became popular
with both manufacturers and customers due to their lightweight nature and relatively low
production costs compared with glass bottles.[5] The food industry has almost completely
replaced glass in many cases with plastic bottles, but wine and beer are still commonly sold in
glass bottles.
[edit] Construction
P
a
c
k
a
g
i Active packaging · Authentication · Child-resistant packaging · Food packaging · Package
n
g testing · Packaging engineering · Shelf life · Package pilferage · Pharmaceutical packaging ·
Tamper-evident · Tamper resistance · Wrap rage
t
o
p
i
c
s
P
Ampoule · Antistatic bag · Blister pack · Bag-In-Box · Bottle · Box · Bulk box · Carton ·
a
c Corrugated box design · Carboy · Crate · Drum (container) · Flexible intermediate bulk
k container · Folding carton · Jar · Juicebox (container) · Insulated shipping container ·
a Intermediate bulk container · Plastic bag · Retort pouch · Sachet (package) · Self-heating
g
food packaging · Shipping container · Skin pack · Popcorn bag · Tin can · Tube
e
s (container) · Unit load · Wooden box
M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l Adhesive · Aluminium foil · Bubble Wrap · Cellophane · Closure (container) · Corrugated
s
fiberboard · Cushioning · Glass · Corrugated plastic · Coated paper · Foam peanut · Hot-
a melt adhesive · Label · Linear low-density polyethylene · Liquid packaging board · Low-
n density polyethylene · Metallised film · Modified atmosphere · Molded pulp · Nonwoven
d fabric · Oxygen absorber · Paper · Pallet · Packaging gas · Paperboard · PET film (biaxially
oriented) · Plastic wrap · Polyester · Polypropylene · Pressure sensitive tape · Screw cap ·
C
o Shrink wrap · Slip sheet · Security seal · Security printing · Strapping · Stretch wrap ·
m Tinplate · Velostat
p
o
n
e
n
t
s
P
r Aseptic processing · Authentication · Automatic identification and data capture · Blow
o molding · Calendering · Containerization · Die cutting (web) · Electronic article
c
surveillance · Extrusion · Extrusion coating · Graphic Design · HACCP · Induction
e
s sealing · Injection molding · Molding (process) · Papermaking · Plastics extrusion · Plastic
s welding · Printing · Quality assurance · Radio-frequency identification · Track and trace ·
e Vacuum forming · Ultrasonic welding · Verification and validation ·
s
M Barcode printer · Barcode reader · Bottling line · Cartoning machine · Check weigher ·
a
c
h Conveyor system · Extended Core Stretch Wrapper · Heat gun · Heat sealer · Industrial
i robot · Injection molding machine · Logistics automation · Material handling equipment ·
n Mechanical Brake Stretch Wrapper · Orbital Stretch Wrapping · Palletizer · Rotary Arm
e Stretch Wrapper · Shrink tunnel · Staple gun · Tape dispenser · Vertical form fill sealing
r
y machine · Turntable Stretch Wrapper
E
n
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n Biodegradation · Glass recycling · Plastic recycling · Environmental engineering ·
t Industrial ecology · Life cycle assessment · Litter · Paper recycling · Reuse · Recycling ·
, Source reduction · Sustainable packaging · Waste management
P
o
s
t
-
u
s
e
P
h
t
h
a
l
a
t
e
s
M
i
s
c
e
l
l
a
n
e
o
u
s
Organophosphates · Adipates (DEHA · DOA)
p
l
a
s
t
i
c
i
z
e
r
s
M
o
n
o
Bisphenol A (BPA, in Polycarbonates) · Vinyl chloride (in PVC)
m
e
r
s
a
d
d
i
t
i
v
e
s
i
n
c
l
.
P
H
C
'
s
H
e
a
l
t
h
Teratogen · Carcinogen · Endocrine disruptor · Diabetes · Obesity
i
s
s
u
e
s
M
i
s
c
PVC · Plastic recycling · Plastic bottle · Vinyl chloride · Dioxins · Polystyrene ·
e
Styrofoam · PTFE (Teflon) · California Proposition 65 · List of environmental health
l
hazards · Persistent organic pollutant · European REACH regulation · Japan Toxic
l
Substances Law · Toxic Substances Control Act
a
n
e
a
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_bottle"
Categories: Bottles | Materials | Plastics applications
Personal tools
• Log in / create account
Namespaces
• Article
• Discussion
Variants
Views
• Read
• Edit
• View history
Actions
Search
Top of Form
Special:Search
Search
Bottom of Form
Navigation
• Main page
• Contents
• Featured content
• Current events
• Random article
• Donate to Wikipedia
Interaction
• Help
• About Wikipedia
• Community portal
• Recent changes
• Contact Wikipedia
Toolbox
• What links here
• Related changes
• Upload file
• Special pages
• Permanent link
• Cite this page
Print/export
• Create a book
• Download as PDF
• Printable version
Languages
• Català
• Deutsch
• Español
• Français
• Hrvatski
• Nederlands
• 日本語
• Slovenčina
• Svenska
• 中文
• This page was last modified on 6 March 2011 at 07:06.
• Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;
additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
organization.
• Contact us
• Privacy policy
• About Wikipedia
• Disclaimers
•
•